Chilliwack prepares for Williams Lake fire evacuees

Emergency officials have issued an Evacuation Order for the city of Williams Lake and surrounding areas.

Massive wildfires fuelled by strong winds have been sweeping over Canada's British Columbia province for more than a week, forcing thousands of people to evacuate.

Richmond said he told a meeting of evacuees on Thursday night that efforts were underway to restore some normality in fire-weary communities.

She added that the fire was advancing rapidly because of the temperature, dry wood and grass and the topography of the region. Rustad said the pilot, the only person on board at the time of the crash, was in stable condition on Sunday.

People in Williams Lake said they knew this day was coming.

Weaver, whose background is in climate science, said people need to begin taking climate change more seriously and recognize humanity's role in the increase in both the number and intensity of these types of natural disasters. "We got what we could", she said breaking into tears.

As quoted by the Sputnik International, now about 2,900 firefighters and 203 aircraft are involved in a fire-extinguishing operation, while the country's authorities have already spent over 80 million Dollars to fight the natural cataclysm, the CBC broadcaster reported on Sunday, citing Canadian Minister of Forests John Rustad.

"We're not releasing the numbers yet", he said.

They held out as long as they could, but the fires around Williams Lake, British Columbia came too close.

My heart especially goes out to the friends and family of the helicopter pilot who was injured in a crash today while fighting to protect B.C. families and communities.

Cariboo Regional District Chairman Al Richmond said that the flames had not reached Williams Lake on Sunday, but he and the mayor made a decision to issue the evacuation order because the fire threatened to cut exit routes. Imperial Metals Corp and Taseko Mines Ltd said separately on Monday they had suspended operations at mines in the area.

They helped with the Kelowna and Barriere wildfires in 2003, the floods in High River, Alta.in 2013 and the aftermath of the natural disaster in Nepal in 2015.

A 45-sqauare-mile fire was 70 percent contained, allowing for all evacuations to be canceled.

The city, which he said is overweight, must also accommodate the evacuees of Loon Lake.